Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
A/N: Not going to lie, I like the name of this chapter :D.
Important! I'll be away with potentially bad internet at the start of the next month. I return home late on the 3rd of October. However, since my birthday is on the 4th, I kind of want to post the next chapter then. A hobbit birthday present so to speak. Sorry that it's going to be a bit late for you, but I'm also going to have a few assignments going on during that time too *wince* Engineering hard, but I like it.
See you then! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Niran dodges out of the way and stands still for a second to admire the complete and utter destruction of an entire building. How much must she weigh to be able to result in such force in a Heavy Press?
You are thinking of the move Heavy Slam. She has a mass of 10,000 kilograms right now. Giratina corrects and informs him.
"Still doesn't make any sense, a building has got to be hundreds of thousands of kilograms. If she's ten times lighter it shouldn't cause so much damage!" Niran protests. While he may not remember the proper name accurately every time, he does know how moves are supposed to function.
The second law of physics: Force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. Ten thousand kilograms multiplied by the approximate acceleration of gravity which is ten-. Niran cuts the lecture short, aided by Miss Valentine's, who had leapt up into the sky under the dust screen, descent.
He just manages to dodge the initial impact but the ground fractures underneath him. He trips, taking super effective damage from the ground. It doesn't help that the impact kicks up another dust screen that gets in his eyes. The impromptu Sand Attack decreases his accuracy.
He jumps away and tries to blink the sand and reactive tears out of his eyes as fast as possible. It doesn't really work. The battle requires more attention than he can spare to fix the stat drop, but it was worth a try. He knows that Zhaleh can help him clean out his eyes outside of the fight.
But he's in a fight now. The first one he's been in without Aliahra's instructions since before his capture. He's actually almost forgotten how it is supposed to go, but he can imagine what his trainer would often have him do in a battle. If only he had his old Moveset, then he'd know for certain.
Although it still wouldn't be perfect. She's the one who knew the type matchups and could observe a battle to know the right moves to use and when. Without her memories, she can't do that now. But Gira still has the game interface active. Niran can see which attacks were super-effective and not very effective and go from there.
Judging by the lesson on type resistances Gira is running Aliahra through, Valentine is unfortunately for Niran, a Rock-type. The initial Flame Charge dealt subpar damage and the Poison Jab didn't do much better. If he still had Bounce or if he were to use Quick Attack, both of them would deal not very effective damage. Four resistances and they applied to every move Niran had ever learned.
Niran doesn't like Rock-types for more reasons than just the fact that they have attacks that are super effective against him. It doesn't help that he's a physical attacker and Rock-types typically have high physical defences.
Across every Pokémon found in eight regions, Rock-types are ranked second in terms of Defence. Steel-types are ranked first of course. Giratina imparts, catching his thoughts. Darcy preens in the back about the compliment to his future second type.
While this is bad news for him, Niran actually has some hope for winning this fight without calling out Zhaleh, Terra or Darcy to deal with the fight for him. He'll do it if he has to, but he really wants to see how he stacks up here.
Besides, Sanji's nearby if he needs help. He feels safe enough to try.
Luckily for him and his hopes, Miss Valentine was slow and relatively easy to dodge. Her moves are so telegraphed that even he could think about how best to avoid them. Not to mention she didn't have any Rock-type attacks. Truly the greatest positive, although a lot of rock-type moves aren't one hundred per cent accurate.
I would remain cautious regardless, Niran. Gira warns him and he does take it under consideration.
Why can't I fight her? Zhaleh whines. Devil Fruit users are all weak to Water, right?
Only still water. Gira specifies. As you would have seen, Luffy is not weakened by the rain. But yes, Water-type moves would prove super-effective against any Devil Fruit User, regardless of their personal type.
'Either way, she's jumping around and staying in the air where you wouldn't be able to reach her.' Aliahra states. 'Niran can jump around after her, and Nico could take the fight to the skies. She'd see any grounded attack coming and easily avoid them like Niran is doing with her telegraphed attacks.'
She can't stay in the air forever. She'll have to come down to attack me. Zhaleh counterpoints.
And your speed is subpar to Niran's. He can avoid her attacks better. Nico pipes up.
Niran shoots an Ember during this. It misses but delays Valentine's next Heavy Slam long enough for him to get away from the point of impact safely. Okay, she does actually have her own name for the move but it's pretty much the same move and he's much more used to this one.
'Embers are off the table and nothing I have can actually deal proper damage.' He states the problem.
'What about a burn? Doesn't it deal damage over time and cut the physical attack stat?' Aliahra asks.
If Ember wasn't the only move that could cause burns he'd take the suggestion. Although it did raise the potential of Poison Jab's secondary effect. A thirty percent chance to poison the target. There isn't any additional STAB damage but it's a base eighty-power move. Flame Charge is merely fifty, barely above Ember's and Quick Attack's forty.
The Same Type Attack Bonus- Just call it STAB, Gira. – multiples the damage of attacks of the same type as you by 1.5. Effectively, Flame Charge and Ember are base power seventy-five and sixty for you. Poison Jab is your most damaging move.
Ya tellin' 'im now? Darcy yells for him. Niran's a little busy trying to poison his opponent but he knows Darcy will feel his gratitude.
So far, his attacks have only dealt about a fifth of her health but on the second (really third including the miss, or fourth actually if you include the very first one in the early part of the match too. Uhh… yeah, it's the fourth) Poison Jab, she's poisoned.
"Aahhh!" Valentine screams, clutching a purple puncture wound. An eighth of her total health is gone in an instant. She's got six seconds before another eighth is lost.
It's not a burn and it's not fire, but he's got a chance. An actual chance against a higher-level Rock-type at that. 'Boo-freaking-yeah.' He mentally, and physically because why not, grins.
Gira silently watches him from another dimension. Niran wilts a little under the warning but it doesn't completely dampen his mood. The unexpected Low Sweep, she hadn't used any move like that before, from a leg trips him and takes away the little bit of boosted speed remaining after the initial Flame Charge. Not that it really matters, he's faster than her even without the boost.
He's down to less than half his health now though. She still has about two-thirds. It'll be close, but he knows he can do it. A rush of excitement fills him at the prospect, unconsciously his mane and tail flare with emotion. If Valentine was feeling any chill from the night air before, the slight increase in temperature coming from the Ponyta would have eliminated it.
'Thirty-six seconds max before she succumbs to the poison.' Aliahra calculates. The fight will end in thirty-six seconds but that's only a maximum. It doesn't consider the fact that Niran is further whittling away at her health. Another Poison Jab misses. He forgot about the accuracy drop. Stupid dust screen Sand Attacks.
Miss Valentine leers at him, studying his form for weaknesses. She expects the pain this time and only whimpers when the 'turn' ends and poison takes effect. Five turns left.
"What poison is this?" She hisses.
Niran tilts his head, not really understanding the question. There's only one poison that exists.
There are more types of poison in this world than there are Pokémon in the Kalos Pokédex. Niran doesn't know how many Pokédex entries that is, but the point is made. But if that's the case…
"Honestly? I don't know." He confides, she flinches from the admission even as her special attack drops. Niran can also admit that he doesn't know the move Confide and shouldn't have been able to learn it in the first place. It alarms him enough that he would have been free game for a strike if Valentine wasn't shocked still by the imparted secret.
Six seconds have passed and the terror on Valentine's face is twisted with pain as another chuck of health goes. Turns out talking probably isn't always a free action. Less than half of her health is left. They match now!
She lightens herself and rushes off, speed boosted by the former action. He dashes after her. The boost is enough for her to stay just out of reach, but she isn't fast enough to lose him. She stumbles when the poison flares up but it's only enough for Niran to get closer. Not hit her. Not yet.
They return to the original location of the battle quickly enough to see Sanji and Mr 5 are still there. Vivi and Carue are too, which he reactively thinks is stupid. Though Sanji must have a reason for not sending them away. Niran decides to trust his better judgement.
'We don't know if there are any more enemies out there.' Aliahra offers an explanation. He takes it without any further thought.
Everyone on the field turns to look at their return. The clear sign of poisoning and her desperate expression gains worry from both males. Darcy curses Sanji's relationship with the opposite sex as the chef yells out at Niran. The Ponyta takes said cursing and uses it to dull the hurt the aggression coming from an ally causes. Gira admonishing Darcy for his language is entertaining enough to help too.
Who'd believe the Devil is a stickler for language? Niran knows he wouldn't have before meeting them and seeing it for himself.
"I don't think Niran could have caused any poisoning." Vivi tries to calm the chef.
"He's got a move called Poison Jab. I'm certain he's responsible." Sanji growls. Niran nods in the background, agreeing with his statement.
Vivi and Carue seem confused by this. To be fair, Ponyta's can't actually learn Poison Jab. A Rapidash's horn is usually necessary for such a move. But being friends with the Devil has perks. At least, that's why Niran believes he can use the move. He doesn't have any other explanation. He puts questioning it into a mental box with his use of confide to ask Giratina later.
While this happens, Mr 5 flicks something at Niran. It's tiny and just before Niran could sidestep it, it explodes. Considering there is a move called Explosion, maybe Niran should rephrase it. It turns into a bunch of force and flames expanding outwards. From such a small explosion, the force isn't actually that much. It doesn't even deal any damage.
What it does try to do, however, is hurt the target with fire and deal out a burn.
Niran's ability, Flash Fire, takes effect. The explosion's flames join his flames, eliminating any chance of damage. With his firepower, pun totally intended, increased for the rest of the fight and any potential burns already impossible because he's a Fire-type, Mr Flick-and-Explode just made the situation worse for him and his partner. Which, six seconds, so maybe thirty percent left? It's still yellow at any rate, though the next health drop will definitely take it into the red.
Sanji's swearing a storm though and delivers a devastating kick that launches Mr 5 into a building. Destroying it too. Niran's getting a theory that maybe buildings around here just aren't that durable. He ignores the impulse to try bringing one down himself and decides to just Quick Attack away the last few points Mr 5 has of health.
'It isn't a kill steal if it's a team effort.' This is his response to Darcy's judgement. The Riolu then immediately launches into a lecture about the sanctity of knowing who's your opponent and the badness of kill stealing. Aliahra's humming in interest, absorbing the information.
Zhaleh interjects to talk about the exception in Double Battles. Sanji's the harder hitter and has a type advantage over Miss Valentine, so he shouldn't have to deal with taking out the barely surviving Mr 5 when he'd be more useful attacking someone else.
Darcy wasn't really a participant in their Double Battles in Sinnoh. Terra's Earthquake or Zhaleh's Surf with Niran's Bounce, Gira's Shadow Force or Nico's Fly was the staple of their Double Battle Tactics. Although Terra's Razor Leaf can hit all opponents and Nico is immune to his Earthquake so there was more to their strategy than just hitting with a super-powerful move and taking out any stragglers on the second turn when Nico, Niran, or Giratina would strike with another powerful attack.
At least that would be the case when your ally isn't a… Gentleman, like Sanji. He doesn't hit women so it would have been better to leave Mr 5 to him. Nico reminds them all.
"Niran!" Sanji calls out. The Ponyta climbs out of the building, the defeat of Mr 5 raising his level to 16. No notification of money yet since Miss Valentine is still conscious. Speaking of her health is in the red so less than twenty percent of her health is left.
"I'm he-" His back feels as though it breaks as ten thousand kilograms slams into his back. The only reason it doesn't actually break is that the heels Miss Valentine are wearing brackets his spine. Most of the force goes into flesh instead of bone.
Doesn't stop the Heavy Slam from knocking him out though. He didn't even get a chance to scream.
There's silence in the Distortion World as all but one flinch at the attack and its result. Darcy's got Inner Focus though, and he's unable to flinch. Even with Niran unconscious and unable to relay any visuals of the situation, his ears work. They can all hear.
The impact sounded a lot like a crack.
"Hand over the antidote or the horse dies." The statement causes Giratina to accidentally release a portion of their aura. If it weren't so dense and strong, Darcy wouldn't have been able to see it as a Riolu. As it is, he can also feel it, even though it's deliberately avoiding him and the others. Even Aliahra, who's sitting on Giratina's back, is spared.
It's so similar to Pressure, Gira's Altered Ability, but so much stronger. Almost as if it could cause actual harm instead of just sapping them of stamina each time they moved. He wonders how would it feel to Miss Valentine if she wasn't in an alternate dimension.
He gets to the gateway and switches with Niran. Miss Valentine stumbles as the body under her foot is replaced with someone smaller. It smashes into the ground and while the torn-up ground hurts Darcy, he survives and delivers a Drain Punch right into her leg. Sometimes, being small sucks. He could hardly get the hit in before poison took the last five percent of her health though. It doesn't really heal him back much.
Darcy grew to level 15. The Baroque Works' Officer Agents lost. You get 1,760 Beri for your victory.
And no evolution. 'What a surprise.' He mentally drawls. Outwardly, he's trying to brush the dust off and out of his short fur although it's not going so well. Much like the whole situation he and his family have found themselves in since coming to this world.
Without Pokéballs to automatically do it, I will have to make sure you maintain your hygiene myself. Giratina groans. I swear… They don't continue but Darcy has no curiosity to ask.
Instead, he turns to face Sanji, Vivi and Carue. They're all relieved but that's not enough for him. He deliberately washes his true feelings over them, Sanji being the main target. Confusion colours them at the sensation of a foreign emotion that was suddenly inside them with no discernible origin.
"Ah'd appreciate it if you didn't let another of my family die, thanks. You bastards are fuckin' lucky Niran's only unconscious." He turns on a paw and starts heading back to the Merry. "Now 'urry da fuck up, bastards. Ah wanna get back to da Merry t'night."
Sanji winces but ushers their charges to follow the irate Riolu. "I'm sorry, but I cannot hit a woman."
He's resolute which usually Darcy could respect but this isn't the case now. He whirls around and glares up at the Straw Hat chef, a bestial growl tainting his words. "Ah know, an' usually Ah'd be fine wid it. But Ah lost my fuckin' Mum two days ago and Ah really don't wanna lose anotha family member again so bloody soon. An' guess what? Ya were dere both times and did NOTHIN'!"
He's crying. Fuck, he knows he's crying, and he can feel both Sanji and Vivi give off waves of empathy at the mention of lost mums which says something he doesn't want to interpret right now, but he couldn't stop. Everything's been going too fast and there's only so long that distractions and wilful repression of the issue from his family will last. There's too much bottled inside and he needs to let it out.
Aliahra was his Mum. She was never a sister or anything else to him. She hatched him, dammit. It was always her, in Pearl and in Platinum and in the East Blue. But it's not her any longer. It's not her back in the Distortion World now or occasionally in the Grand Line.
"Ah don' fuckin' trust ya with my treasure. If it were my say, we'd leave ya Straw Hats on da next safe island." He turns and walks back to the ship, managing to stop the tears from falling but not the burning in his eyes.
When they get there, Zoro's yelling at Nami, having been roped into carrying her treasure on board. Usopp's helping the Mayor guy – Mr 8, Igaram, whatever the hell his name is – make some decoy mannequins with Luffy's, Zoro's and Sanji's faces while the man poorly begins cross-dressing as Vivi.
"Whateva plan ya've got it's fucking stupid." He growls as he passes them by. He can't feel the perpetual excitement and curiosity of Luffy as he boards the ship and has to force himself to not hit Merry in revenge. It would have been nice to feel something positive at least. Everyone is full of tension and it's just really not helping. At all.
Nami sees his treasureless state but also coins onto the aggression he's letting off and doesn't bring it up. He knows she's going to bring it up later and he's eager to throw a few kilograms of precious metal at her face.
Metal clangs as it's dropped to the deck. Nami's yelling at Zoro is ignored by Darcy and the Riolu turns and decides it's probably best for him to run now under the excuse of searching for Luffy. Before he can open his mouth and vocalise the intention a large, calloused hand lands on his head and starts kind of awkwardly scratching around his ears.
He's unsure and inexperienced, but he's trying which is more than anyone else can admit to. Darcy can even feel the faux calmness and genuine reassurance radiating off the swordsman.
It feels nice but while Darcy trusts Zoro the most out of the crew he doesn't let it continue. It just means he doesn't Drain Punch him as he pushes the hand off his head. Before he can get away though, a pinkie extends in front of him.
His next breath is choked out and he can't stop the tears from falling again. He bypasses the offered finger to just sob into Zoro's chest. The swordsman lets him even though Darcy can feel how out of his depth he feels. He sends some gratitude and a hint of affection toward him. The reassurance grows stronger in response.
"Where's your captain?" Vivi asks before presumably catching sight of Igaram. "Igaram! What are you doing? Why-?"
"I have a plan." He states. "Now that you're wanted by Baroque Works, they'll send someone right away. Especially since you beat Mr. 5 and his partner." He nods toward Sanji and Darcy.
"Ah resent callin' Miss Valentine, Mr. 5's partner." Darcy protests, though his voice is too muffled for anyone bar his team and Zoro to hear. Niran groans in unconscious agreement. He can't actually understand what's being said so probably not. But it is very coincidental timing, and he would have agreed with him either way.
"There's something else you should know." Igaram tries to continue but Luffy's landing after rocketing himself from wherever the hell he was prevents him from doing so.
"Oh, you're here already. No wonder I couldn't find you, shishishi." Luffy cheers. "Did Sanji find you? Hmm- what's wrong, Darcy?"
The Riolu stiffens at the feeling the concern and protectiveness wash over him. This is so bloody embarrassing. Why did Luffy have to show up while he's crying like a damn baby? Suddenly, instead of huddled against Zoro, he's sitting under a bloody and ruffled wing that's propped up on a dirt shell.
There's no more confusion, no more concern, uncertainty or fear or stress or the beginnings of anger. Just Nico's huffiness, Zhaleh's faux annoyance, Terra's sleepiness, Giratina's curiosity, and a blankness from Niran that comes with unconsciousness which is admittedly not a new experience.
It feels strangely normal. It really had been a few days ago that he'd been a Lucario, back in the Sinnoh region, dealing with these very emotions from these very beings on a nearly daily basis. Even Aliahra's mild embarrassment and inquisitiveness feel like his Mum's. Well, their Mum. She's technically Aliahra's too even if they are supposed to be the same person.
Nico lets out an annoyed chirp. "Are you just going to sit there or are you going to help me with these feathers?" She deliberately flaps the wing above his head that Terra's shell keeps propped up and out.
"Bossy birdy." Not the most inspired insult, but he's tired. Back off.
"Niran got knocked out in the fight, Darcy's just a bit freaked out about it. He'll be fine eventually." Aliahra tells Luffy, sheepishly grinning at Zoro as she gets out of his hold. "You can continue on Igaram, I'm just going to put this treasure away before Darcy actually does as he was tempted to and throws it at someone."
She gives a quick salute and rushes away with the treasure. As soon as she reaches her and Nami's room, she falls into the hammock that's supposed to be hers and muffles a groan into a pillow. A part of it is pain from her aching head, face and neck, but another part of it is just emotions she doesn't yet know the names of. It's a little overwhelming.
She rolls over and claps her hands together above her head. They remain clasped, up in the air for no discernible reason. She's just staring blankly at them for a few seconds before letting herself think again. "My name is Aliahra. I have four brothers and one sister. I'm a Pokémon Trainer. I don't like having my hair cut. I like being the tallest. I… I don't actually know if those last three things are really me." Her hands flop on her face. She groans into them.
"My name is Aliahra. I have four brothers and one sister. Battling is new to me. I don't like the smell of alcohol. I like… I like hugs… and I do know those things are me." With a deep sigh, she sits up and heads back on deck. There's not much time it should take to just put away a bag of treasure and Gira says that information is power.
She needs to know as much about the situation as she possibly can. That means she has to be there. If her siblings are to also know what's going on, it again means that she has to be there.
Knowing your opponent is half of the first step in any battle, whether it's one like her Pokémon participated in or the ambush the bounty hunters tried to do but the majority of the crew had cottoned onto and deliberately sprung. There are lots of different types of battles but knowing your opponent and knowing your own capabilities is the basis of what's required to win. You can't figure out a winning strategy if your opponent's just going to bypass it because of some immunity or ability of theirs you didn't know.
They hadn't realised that Sanji would rather lose than fight a woman. That cost them Niran's consciousness. They were lucky it didn't cost him his life.
While Aliahra is undeniably curious as to the reason why Sanji is the way he is, all she does know is the depth of his resolve. Giratina has made it clear that while they know, they won't say.
It feels wrong to ask Sanji if even Giratina feels as though they shouldn't.
Aliahra heaves a deep breath before going back on deck. Princess Vivi hands over an Eternal Log Pose to Igaram, and he is really badly disguised as Vivi. Honestly, it's terrible and almost offensive to her senses. It definitely is to Nico's judging by the complaints.
"Wouldn't those Baroque Works people know about you too?" She asks, cutting into whatever conversation had been going on. "Wouldn't it make more sense to just be yourself and use that as supporting evidence that Vivi's with you? I mean, you really don't look like her. You'd make a poor decoy."
Zhaleh hums encouragingly, not that anyone in this realm could hear him, giving his support even as he flushes the sand out of Niran's unconscious eyes. The sound turns annoyed when he finds another small grain.
I'm starting to hate sand. It gets everywhere. He groans.
The others blink at her before Sanji voices his agreement. "She's right. Baroque Works would believe that the Captain of the Royal Guard would stay with the princess at all costs." He pulls a disgusted face at the disguise the man's wearing and scowls. "They'd never believe you're her even from far away. Vivi-chan's much cuter than an old man like you."
Igaram looks disgruntled at his idea being shot down but everyone bar Luffy is already agreeing to the change in plans. Nico is definitely offended that the captain thinks the disguised man looks great.
Luffy needs to get his eyes checked. She hisses with a beak, then she blinks and reconsiders. Perhaps he was affected by some sort of confusion because of the display? Is he in his normal state of mind?
Luffy is strange. Gira replies. They leave it at that unsatisfactory answer despite all of their protests.
With a flourish that draws her attention to this world – maybe it's the brain damage but she hasn't been able to view both at the same time properly yet – Sanji presents a tray of drinks Aliahra hadn't realised he was holding.
With hearts in his eyes and a dance in his step, he offers one to the princess. She accepts it, clearly bewildered at the chef's behaviour. Nami gracefully accepts her drink with an air of experience and Aliahra blinks as the three remaining drinks on the tray are all presented to her. The hearts in Sanji's eyes are gone.
"The Lemongrass Tea is for Niran." He admits a bit gruffly before continuing a bit more cheerfully. "Lemonade is for my Dove and the chocolate milk is a special treat for you, my lady."
I am not a Pidove of any sort! I need to stage an intervention for multiple people during my next turn out it seems. Nico plots. Although the lemonade is appreciated. His scalp shall remain unscathed. Clearly, he's just uneducated and that is no fault of his.
Aliahra accepts the tray, switches with Terra for a brief second, and returns to the seafaring world in the time it took the Staravia to make her comment.
"Nico says thank you but she doesn't like being compared to a Pidove - she'll explain it all later - Niran's still out but I'm sure he'll enjoy it, and thanks for the drinks Sanji." She says to the blonde man. "Nico's suspectable to specific bribes, so feel free to exploit it to save your scalp at any time."
While he's thinking through her response, she tastes the drink and immediately changes from the planned sip to just chugging it as she watched Zoro and Nami do earlier.
A new note about herself, she loves this chocolate milk drink.
He offered it because you said it was your favourite drink. Terra says.
'Good to know my taste buds were unaffected then.' She thinks as she finishes sculling it. "I love this, this is my favourite drink now."
Sanji grins but it's bittersweet. He doesn't say why it is, but Terra already gave away why so she doesn't ask. 'Seriously, we would have only known each other for about twenty-four hours before the lightning bolt. Why are they all like this?'
A loud slurp is the first answer she gets. Closing her eyes, Aliahra can see Nico deliberately slurp her lemonade through a straw and Darcy and Terra directing an unimpressed look at the Staravia's mischievous grin. Giratina looks curious at the sound and she can see them trying to puzzle out how it works while Nico attempts to recreate it.
Zhaleh flings sand at the bird and receives an obnoxious sounding squawk. He sighs and responds before he gets attacked by a disgruntled, slighted Staravia. They feel guilty and you not knowing any of the things you should is a reminder of their failure. They're going to do this a lot, just accept it and move on. Nico starts squawking intelligibly in the Vaporeon's ears and flinging ruined feathers at him. He powers through it with a sip of Niran's tea. This is good. When Niran's awake next, get Sanji to make him some more of this, okay?
"Zhaleh's drinking Niran's tea, sorry." She confesses with a sigh and then pinches the bridge of her nose. "Also, Nico's being very loud right now. Did I miss anything?"
Maybe she should have opened her eyes and looked before speaking. From the looks of it, Igaram's disguise is currently in the process of being moved onto a dummy – Mannequin – by Usopp and Igaram, Vivi's standing as a reference as Usopp paints a full-on, life-like, accurate portrait of her on the mannequin's face. Honestly, she's impressed.
Smeargle's are normal types and good at drawing. Terra hums, snacking on the lemon that had been wedged on the glass in Nico's drink.
Nami is the only one still near her. She smiles at her with good humour as Aliahra shifts at the realisation she spoke to the air.
"What Sanji doesn't know won't hurt him." She says and beckons her to follow, they start heading to the girls' room. "When you switch do you just become voices in each other's head? What happens?"
Aliahra shrugs, "That's what it feels like, but if I close my eyes I can see them in the Pocket Dimension Giratina carved out of the Distortion World for us. I hear pretty much everything in there though." She winces as Zhaleh slurps at Nico and her cries become strikingly more strident in retaliation. "They can be very loud. So if Zhaleh would stop aggroing Nico and she could stop shrieking at him it would be very much appreciated."
It becomes quiet and Aliahra sighs in relief. The throbbing of her headache starts dying down now that the cause of it has stopped. They enter their cabin and Nami laughs at her blatant relief.
"But they can see and hear everything you do?" she inquires.
Aliahra confirms this with a nod and turns a curious look at Nami when she takes them to the piles of treasure they accrued. "Good, then I can give you all a lesson in managing money at the same time."
They all blink at that and tilt their heads, Aliahra only knows this because Darcy muffled a laugh and explained that they all did it too later. Nami brought out some paper and metal circles – coins – and admits "If you didn't even know what water was then I doubt you would know anything about economics or treasure. I don't want to miss out on anything precious just because you were ignorant!"
Aliahra ended up getting an allowance to help teach her good spending habits. Along with responsibility according to Gira. Nami has it as a reward for doing certain jobs and doing well in remembering certain lessons. She was doubtful of this. She didn't see the worth in money.
"You can use it to buy chocolate."
"Why didn't you lead with that!?"
'Now Gira, where exactly is my money from battling?' In another dimension, the Devil shifts uncomfortably.
Next up: Namesake
Aka, Nico Robin. :D
What did you think of this chapter?